Single-Story: In class, we've been using this idea of a single-story presented by Chimamanda Adichie, Nigerian novelist, in her TedTalk. A single-story is simply the dominant understanding you hold about a person, a group of people, a place, or an idea or belief before you really know all aspects of that person, group, place, or idea. The catch is that it is simply a single-story with one voice, understanding, and belief. A single-story can be a stereoptype, a judgement, or a preconcieved notion. A single-story is a weak and thin understanding of a person, group, place, or idea.
Rick Steves opens his documentary on Iran by saying that very few Americans know very little about Iran (Rick Steves' Iran: Yesterday and Today). Before we started reading Persepolis and learning more about Iranian culture, we uncovered our single-story. Throughout the quarter, we will be challenging and affirming these dominant understandings while developing a more well-rounded understanding of Iranian culture.
What follows are points from three different ninth grade classes. The first is a list of things we think we know about Iran. The second is a list of things we want to know.
Things we know (or think we know)--our single-story:
There is a lot of war and violence going on in Iran
It is in Asia.
It is next to Iraq.
It is a third world country.
There are many soldiers.
There is a lot of gender inequality and sexism.
Everyone has to wear clothes that cover them from the top of their head to their toes.
They have a corrupt government. Their government is instable.
Women have to wear a veil/headscarf.
Men have beards.
There are many terrorists.
The country has a lot of oil.
The main religion of the country is Islam.
The second largest religion of the country is Jewish.
They hate America.
Things we want to know:
Do they have weapons? Nuclear weapons?
What sorts of things do they wear? Skinny jeans? Brand names?
Single-Story: In class, we've been using this idea of a single-story presented by Chimamanda Adichie, Nigerian novelist, in her TedTalk. A single-story is simply the dominant understanding you hold about a person, a group of people, a place, or an idea or belief before you really know all aspects of that person, group, place, or idea. The catch is that it is simply a single-story with one voice, understanding, and belief. A single-story can be a stereoptype, a judgement, or a preconcieved notion. A single-story is a weak and thin understanding of a person, group, place, or idea.
Rick Steves opens his documentary on Iran by saying that very few Americans know very little about Iran (Rick Steves' Iran: Yesterday and Today). Before we started reading Persepolis and learning more about Iranian culture, we uncovered our single-story. Throughout the quarter, we will be challenging and affirming these dominant understandings while developing a more well-rounded understanding of Iranian culture.
What follows are points from three different ninth grade classes. The first is a list of things we think we know about Iran. The second is a list of things we want to know.
Things we know (or think we know)--our single-story:
Things we want to know: